FYF Fest 2011: Pre-Festival Picks

Skate brand Altamont brings Los Angeles’ a one-day event of genre-hopping madness once again! With five stages of music and comedy, there are musical pickins for everyone here, though fans of electronic music and fans of bands of yore should be particularly elated!

Death From Above 1979

11:05PM, LEONARDO’S STAGE
After reuniting earlier this year, Toronto’s Death From Above 1979 has been hitting the festival circuit hard. From Coachella to the Leeds Festival and SXSW, where fans ensued a riot, the duo has been melting faces at a furious speed. Consisting of just a drummer and bassist, DFA 1979 perform songs that are loud, electrifying, and make people want to dance. – KH

Explosions in the Sky

10:45PM, DONATELLO’S STAGE
The Austin quartet is more synonymous with the widely thrown around genre “post-rock” than anyone else. But if the shoe fits the bill, than Explosions In The Sky are the masters of the grandiose, instrumental crescendos. – PW

Nosaj Thing

8:50PM, RAPHAEL’S STAGE
Los Angeles’ Nosaj Thing, aka Jason Chung, has remixed everyone from HEALTH to Charlotte Gainsbourg and Flying Lotus. Being influenced by hip-hop, Chung’s music has a natural-sounding flow with sharp and mutating beats that keep listeners engaged. – KH

yacht

7:50PM, RAPHAEL’S STAGE
YACHT, formerly comprised of just Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans, has expanded since their last album to include fellow Portlanders Jeffrey Brodsky (Jeffrey Jerusalem), Katy Davidson, and Rob Kieswetter (Bobby Birdman). Trust us: the additional members certainly contribute to a more explosive and engaging live show. – VH

Japandroids

4:15PM, MICHELANGELO’S STAGE
While Japandroids is another frenetic rock duo from Canada, its style has a different aesthetic than the aforementioned DFA 1979. This Vancouver group makes waves utilizing drums and guitar and creates a warmer garage sound. Their combination of earnest vocals and fiery emotions foster an amicable appeal. – KH

Off!

3:35PM, DONATELLO’S STAGE
Baby boomer legends show all us noobs how it’s done with their retro brand of hardcore that seems more vital than any frilly, over-produced, or unnecessarily lo-fi punk record in recent memory. Say you saw them when they were still walking and get a lesson in old school ass kickery from the archetypes themselves. – TM

Pink Mountaintops

3:35PM, DONATELLO’S STAGE
Those who love Black Mountain will find relaxing comfort in the shoegaze-psych of sister band Pink Mountaintops. – VH

the head and the heart

2:00PM, LEONARDO’S STAGE
People rave about them. People rave against them. Regardless of how you feel, Seattle’s The Head And The Heart put on a show that makes your heart melt just a little bit. – PW

Mister Heavenly

1:35PM, LEONARDO’S STAGE
Mister Heavenly is a collaboration consisting of Nick Thorburn (Islands/The Unicorns), Ryan Kattner (Man Man) and Joe Plummer (Modest Mouse). The band seems to have its sights set on a wide range of sounds. The debut album goes from a blaring, guitar-driven track called “Bronx Sniper” to a quirky sunny tune named “Pineapple Girl.” – KH